128 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 



which the amphipods are usually abundant" (Peck, Bull., U. S. 

 Fish Com., XV, 1895, 355.) Young specimens four to six inches long 

 are often found feeding at night near the shores of coves and harbors 

 feeding on schools of small fishes. 

 Rate of Growth: In the lower part of Narragansett Bay young speci- 

 mens two to three inches long are common everywhere in September, 

 and are taken abundantly in the traps in the West Passage, and in 

 seines along the shores in the neighborhood of Wickford. 

 September 2, 1909, two specimens, 45 and 53 mm., taken in seine, Corne- 

 lius Island. September 23, 1909, average of specimens taken in the 

 seine on Cornelius Island, Mill Cove (sandy beach with eel-grass), was 2 

 inches (51.5 mm.). Average of 6 specimens taken at the same place, 

 October 1, 1909, was 53.3 mm. At the same place, October 8, 1909, 

 a dozen or more specimens taken ranging from 52 to 56 mm. These 

 must be the young from eggs spawned in May and June. 

 At Woods Hole young specimens * to | inches in length were taken in 

 July (Smith). Also specunens 1 1-5 inches (45 mm.) long taken July 

 25, and 2^ inches (58 mm.) on August 2nd (Eigenmann, 1901). 

 Sherwood and Edwards (1901) give the following data regarding the 

 growth of scup at Woods Hole: "July 3rd, length, 2 to 3 inches; 

 September 29, 3 to 4 inches; November, 4 inches." At Nichols Pomt, 

 Long Island, a number of young two inches long were taken September 

 1st (Bean, 1903). "Throughout the summer young fish of the 

 spring spawning are to be seen floating around in the eel-grass and on 

 the sandy bottoms, having attained a length of from 2\ to Z\ inches 

 by the first of October" (Baird, 1871). 

 The first arrivals in the spring are large breeding scup, but this is soon 

 followed by another run of small specimens, about four or five mches 

 in length, which probably are the young of the preceding season. 

 When the scup re-appear in the second season, "thus completing one 

 year of existence, they measure about six inches; and by the first of 

 September attain an average length of eight inches (including the tail) . 

 (Twelve individuals measured on the 31st of August from 7.75 to 9 

 inches in length)" (Baird, 1871). 

 In August, besides a few large and apparently mature scup, sizes like the 

 following are common in Narragansett Bay: August 13, 1909, Mill 

 Cove, a specimen 5i inches long taken; August 15, 1909, specimens 

 5 to 5i inches long were taken in a seine in Mill Cove. August 16, 

 1909, about 200 specimens taken in a trap at Dutch Island Harbor 



